Title
God Watches Over the Patriot
Scripture
“Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing”
(Numbers 31:49)
Devotional
God protects the patriot when the patriot stands for God. In war, as in life, the Lord God is always on the side of right. Casualties may come; they are the cost of war. But the Lord delivers the righteous cause. We are to pray that the Lord will arm His patriots with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We are to likewise realize that we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness. These battles are won not by might nor by our power, but with the Word of God and prayer. Examine how Jesus used the Word of God when being tempted by Satan in Luke chapter four. Likewise, study Matthew 26, His praying in Gethsemane. You will find that Jesus did not pray in preparation for the battle. Prayer was the battle. At the end of the good fight, we hopefully can say, “And not a man of us is missing.”
Text For The Day
Numbers 31:49: “Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.”
Thought For The Day
“Prayer is political action. Prayer is social energy. Prayer is public good. Far more of our nation’s life is shaped by prayer than is formed by legislation. That we have not collapsed into anarchy is due more to prayer than to the police. Prayer is a sustained and intricate act of patriotism in the largest sense of that word—far more precise, loving, and preserving than any patriotism served up in slogans. That society continues to be livable and that hope continues to be resurgent are attributable to prayer far more than to business prosperity or a flourishing of the arts. The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer.” Eugene Peterson in Earth and Altar. Peterson is the author of the paraphrase New Testament, The Message
Questions To Ponder
· Mankind has been at war throughout his history. Does God take sides?
· Is patriotism a good thing?
· How would you define your patriotism?
Morning Study Guide
Defining: True patriotism is a love of God and country. To have love of country without the love of God, produces a godless, doomed society. To love God and country equates to a blessed nation.
Referencing: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Psalm 33:12.
Applying: Demonstrate your love for God and country: Pray for our political leaders, display a well read Bible, and fly a flag.